Grab bars

Went today to install some grab bars for a lady whose husband is coming home from rehab after breaking a hip. She wanted to install a grab bar by the commode and 1 in the shower. Shower, no problem found the studs, pretty straight forward. By the commode, different story, it is a cement block wall that separates the 2 condos. So now all you have is 1/2" drywall and a 1x furring strip then the block wall. This gives you 1 1/4" of useless space as the drywall or the 1x have no holding power how would you mount this bar? Oh and the man is 6'2" over 200# not a little guy.

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Grab bars

Some folks use the Tapcon screws but they are a little pricey. I have drilled a hole the same size as the screw threads in the wood and on into the concrete wall. Take a #12 electric solid wire strand, leave the insulation on the wire, insert the wire in the hole then screw the bar to the wall. You can not pull it off the wall.

Grab bars

Grab bars

Perhaps.... Custom grab bars, w/ a 4" diam fixing plate with 4 holes for TapCons and tapped for small machine screws; as mentioned, this is serious. Make wooden discs that cover the fixing plates of the grab bars, secured (eventually) to the fixing plate. Cut the sheetrock. Insert the grab bar flush to the concrete. TapCon the H out of them. Install wooden discs, screwing them to the fixing plates. Plug the holes in the sheet rock. Yes, very expensive; so is falling, esp for YOU.

Grab bars

That method Jim mentioned is safe---drill pilot holes through the board and brick---add an anchor (the copper wire) and send those long coarse screws into it---You will have a good strong and safe grab bar---

I installed nearly 200 grab bars in the last two or three months---You will be quite safe in my opinion.

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